Smart card reader with electrostatic discharge protection

ABSTRACT

A smart card reader having several advantageous grounding techniques and several techniques to insure proper electrical isolation of the electrical components of the card reader is disclosed. The smart card reader has a base and a cover. In certain techniques, a non-conductive base is grounded to a conductive, grounded cover. In another technique, a grounded base formed of a statically dissipative composite material is utilized.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to smart card readers, and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to a card reader foreliminating problems with electrostatic discharge that often occurs whena smart card is inserted into a card reader.

HISTORY OF THE PRIOR ART

Credit cards have long been an accepted part of life around the world.Early credit cards had identifying information raised from the remainderof the card, and the identifying information was transferred from thecard by the use of pressure and carbon paper. More modern credit anddebit cards have their identifying information as fixed electronic data,such as a scanable magnetic strip embedded on the surface of a card.Such identifying information exists within the card in a read-onlyformat. Smart cards, the most recent advancement in the card art,utilize an active integrated circuit embedded within the card to storeidentifying information. Unlike prior art cards, smart cards have theadditional capability of altering the identifying information stored intheir integrated circuits. Smart cards may be utilized for any functionof a prior art credit or debit card and have also proven useful in awide variety of other functions, including paying bills; paying for masstransit; performing health care benefit transactions; and in using paytelephones, automated teller machines, in-home digital satellitesystems, "set top" boxes used with cable television, or other similarequipment.

The integrated circuit in a smart card is typically a memory chip or amicroprocessor chip. To provide access to the information stored in theintegrated circuit of the card, operative regions such as contact padsare provided on the surface of the card, and the integrated circuit iselectrically connected to these operative regions.

A smart card reader typically has a housing having a slot through whichthe card is inserted and removed. After insertion, the smart card ismanipulated into a reading position, in which the operative regions ofthe card are in contact with certain terminals in the card reader. Theterminals of the card reader are typically electrically connected to aprinted circuit board containing the additional circuitry necessary fora given transaction. After a transaction is complete, the card isreturned to the user.

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) frequently creates problems for smart cardusers. Smart cards are typically made of a non-conductive material, suchas plastic. Normal handling of a card, such as removal and insertion ofa card from a user's wallet or billfold, may cause electrostatic chargeto build up in the card. When a user inserts a card into a smart cardreader, and when the card comes into contact with the conductiveterminals of the card reader, electric shock may occur. This electricshock is similar to the shock that occurs when one walks across acarpeted floor and then touches a metal object such as a lamp. Suchshock may damage or cause malfunction of the integrated circuit withinthe smart card, and it may also damage or cause malfunction of thecircuitry on the printed circuit board to which the card reader iselectrically connected.

In addition, after a period of use, body oils or other partiallyconductive material may collect on the surface of a smart card. Suchconductive material may be sufficient to transfer electrostatic chargebuilt up on the user of a card to the card itself. Such additionalelectrostatic charge exacerbates the ESD problems experienced by smartcards.

Several prior art techniques have been formulated to address the ESDproblem of smart cards. For example, it is known to provide a smart cardreader with a cover or top portion made of a conductive material and toconnect the cover to ground. During insertion, a smart card contacts thecover before it contacts the conductive terminals connected to the baseor bottom portion of the smart card reader. In this way, electrostaticcharge may be discharged through the cover to ground, and a damagingelectric shock is avoided. U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,997 assigned to AlcatelRadiotelephone discloses such a technique.

In addition, it is known to form a card reader cover from a highlyresistive, yet conductive material and to ground the cover to a chassis.Alternatively, it is also known to paint or coat the cover of a cardreader with a highly resistive, yet conductive material and to groundthe painted cover to a chassis. Such materials provide a relatively slowdischarge rate for the electrostatic charge, in contrast to therelatively fast discharge rate of a damaging electric shock.Furthermore, a variety of conventional conductive plastics providing ESDprotection and electromagnetic interference shielding are sold by theBekaert Corporation of Marietta, Ga. under the BEKI-SHIELD trademark.

With the availability of such conventional techniques to address the ESDproblems of a smart card reader, it would be advantageous to provide asimple, low cost technique of grounding a conductive card reader cover.The smart card reader of the present invention provides severaladvantageous grounding techniques and several techniques to insureproper electrical isolation of the electrical components of the cardreader without a substantial increase in complexity or cost as comparedto conventional card readers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to grounding techniques for a smart cardreader and techniques to insure proper electrical isolation of theelectrical components of the smart card reader. More particularly, oneaspect of the invention includes an improved smart card reader of thetype having a non-conductive base and a conductive, grounded cover matedwith the base to form a slot for insertion of a smart card. The base hasa least one terminal for contacting an operative region of the smartcard and a switch electrically connected to a base ground pin. The baseground pin is for electrically connecting to a ground of a printedcircuit board. The improvement of the present invention comprises acover ground pin electrically connected to the base ground pin andupwardly depending from the base. An aperture is provided in the coverthat receives at least a portion of the cover ground pin and makeselectrical connection therewith.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a smart card reader ofthe type having a non-conductive base and a conductive, grounded covermated with the base to form a slot for insertion of a smart card. Thebase has a plurality of terminals for contacting an operative region ofthe smart card. The improvement comprises a plurality of slots formed inthe cover, in which each of the plurality of slots is disposed directlyabove one of the plurality of terminals. Such a cover insures properelectrical isolation of the terminals of the smart card reader.

In a further aspect, the invention includes an improved smart cardreader of the type having a non-conductive base and a conductive,grounded cover mated with the base to form a slot for insertion of asmart card. The base has a least one terminal having a first end forelectrically connecting to a printed circuit board and a second end forcontacting an operative region of smart card. The improvement comprisesa conductive post downwardly depending from the cover and through agrounded hole in the printed circuit board. The post makes electricalconnection with the grounded hole.

In a further aspect, the invention includes an improved method forgrounding a conductive cover of a smart card reader. The card reader hasa non-conductive base mated with the cover, and the base has a switchelectrically connected to a base ground pin. The base ground pin is forelectrically connecting to a ground of a printed circuit board. Theimprovement comprises electrically connecting a cover ground pin to saidbase ground pin, and positioning the cover ground pin in the base sothat the cover ground pin is in physical and electrical contact with thecover.

In a further aspect, the invention includes an improved method forgrounding a conductive cover of a smart card reader. The card reader hasa non-conductive base mated with the cover, and the card reader iselectrically connected to a printed circuit board. The improvementcomprises forming a conductive post downward from the cover and througha grounded hole in the printed circuit board. The post is in physicalcontact with, and is electrically connected with, the grounded hole.

In a further aspect, a smart card reader comprises a cover and a basemated with the cover to form a slot for receiving a smart card. The baseis formed of a statically dissipative composite material having asurface resistivity in the range from about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ohms/sq (ohms/square). The base is electrically connected to a ground.

Yet another aspect of the invention is a method of dissipatingelectrostatic charge from a smart card being inserted into a cardreader, in which the card reader has a base with at least one terminal,and the terminal has a first end electrically connected to a printedcircuit board and a second end for contacting an operative region of thesmart cart. The base is formed from a statically dissipative compositematerial having a surface resistivity in the range from about 1×10⁶ upto about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq. The base is grounded to a ground of the printedcircuit board. Upon insertion of the smart card into the reader, thecard contacts the base before the card contacts the terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and forfurther objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the card reader base according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention illustrating the insertion of asmart card therein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the card reader cover according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention shown separated from the base ofFIG. 1 for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the card reader according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention showing the slot into which a smartcard is inserted;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the base of FIG. 1 along line 4--4;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cover of FIG. 2 along line 5--5;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a cover post according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a top view of the base of FIG. 1 and the cover of FIG. 2illustrating the operation of the card reader according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantagesare best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, likenumerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the variousdrawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a top view of a base 12 of a card reader 10and a smart card 14 for insertion into card reader 10 are shown. FIG. 2shows a top view of a cover 16 of card reader 10, with cover 16separated from base 12 for clarity of illustration. FIG. 3 shows a frontview of card reader 10 with base 12 and cover 16 mated together to forma slot 18. Card 14 is inserted into slot 18 during operation of cardreader 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the structure for mating base 12 tocover 16 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 1, base 12 has fourbase jigs 20 located on its four corners. Although four base jigs areshown in FIG. 1, this number is merely preferred and fewer or more basejigs may be utilized for specific applications of card reader 10. Raisedsurfaces 22 and 24 are located on each side of base 12, and twoapertures 26 are located in each of surfaces 22 and 24, respectively. Asshown in FIG. 2, cover 16 has four holes 28 located on its four cornersfor mating with base jigs 20. Cover 16 also has a raised surface 30 onone end. Posts 32 and 34, located proximate raised surface 30,downwardly depend from cover 16. A raised surface 36 is located on theend of cover 16 opposite raised surface 30. Posts 37 and 38, locatedproximate raised surface 36, downwardly depend from cover 16. Posts 32,34, 37, and 38 extend through apertures 26 of base 12 when base 12 andcover 16 are mated. Base 12 also contains a base jig 40 proximate itsrear end. Base jig 40 mates with a hole 42 in cover 16. Theabove-described structure insures proper alignment and mating of base 12and cover 16. Of course, modified alignment structures could be utilizedby one skilled in the card reader art.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the structure of base 12 will now bedescribed in more detail. As shown in FIG. 1, card support surfaces 44and 46 are located on opposite ends of base 12. Member 52, comb 54, andmember 56 are transverse to card support surfaces 44 and 46. Conductiveterminals 58 are supported by member 52 and member 56. Comb 54 insuresthat each terminal 58 is electrically isolated from the adjacentterminals. Although only four pairs of terminals 58 are shown in FIG. 1,fewer or more terminals could be utilized, depending on the specificapplication of card reader 10. FIG. 4 provides a more detailed view ofterminals 58 supported within base 12. In particular, each terminal 58has a card contacting region 60 proximate comb 54 and a printed circuitboard connector 62 on its end opposite card contacting region 60.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a switch base 64 is located on member 56. Thefront surfaces of base jig 40 and switch base 64 form card stops 48 and50, respectively. A switch 66 is mechanically and electrically connectedto switch base 64. More specifically, a ground arm 68 of switch 66 iscoupled to a base ground pin 70 located in switch base 64. A power arm72 of switch 66 is coupled to a base power pin 74 of switch base 64.Although not shown in FIG. 1, base ground pin 70 and base power pin 74extend downwardly from the bottom surface of base 12 for connection withthe ground and power lines of a printed circuit board (not shown),respectively. A cover ground pin 75 preferably extends upwardly from thetop surface of switch base 64. Cover ground pin 75 is electricallyconnected to base ground pin 70 and ground arm 68.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the structure of cover 16 will now bedescribed in more detail. As shown in FIG. 2, an integral spring member76 is formed in cover 16 proximate raised surface 30. An aperture 78generally surrounds all but an end 79 of spring member 76. Spring member76 has contacting end 80 biased against upward movement for frictionallyengaging card 14 when it is inserted into card reader 10. A secondintegral spring member 82 is formed in cover 16 proximate raised surface36 and opposite spring member 76. An aperture 84 generally surrounds allbut an end 85 of spring member 82. Spring member 82 has a contacting end86 biased against upward movement for frictionally engaging card 14 whenit is inserted into card reader 10. Of course, spring members 76 and 82may be coupled to, instead of integrally formed with, cover 16. Variousgeometries can be used for spring members 76 and 82 as long as thespring members have contacting ends for engaging card 14. In addition,although two spring members are shown in FIG. 2, only one spring memberor more than two spring members may be utilized for specificapplications of card reader 10. Furthermore, although not shown in FIG.2, it may be advantageous to connect contacting ends 80 and 86 with acontacting bar for frictionally engaging card 14 across a large portionof its width.

A plurality of cover slots 88, each slot 88 being formed by a pair ofadjacent walls 90, are formed in cover 16 generally above terminals 58of base 12. As is shown best in FIG. 5, walls 90 have a bottom surface92 and a top surface 94. Bottom surface 92 is preferably generallyplanar with surface 96 of cover 16, located proximate slot 18. Topsurface 94 is preferably lower than the surrounding surface 98 of cover16. When base 12 and cover 16 are mated together, a respective one ofcover slots 88 is directly over a corresponding terminal 58.

Cover slots 88 maintain proper electrical isolation of terminals 58 whencover 16 is formed of a conductive material. More specifically, if aterminal 58 is moved upward toward cover 16, the terminal 58 moves intoits respective cover slot 88, without contacting cover 16. Cover slots88 thus significantly reduce the likelihood of a short circuit, and acorresponding malfunction of card reader 10, that may otherwise occur ifone of terminals 58 contacts cover 16. Such short circuits wouldfrequently occur because each contacting region 60 of each terminal 58is preferably positioned within its respective cover slot 88 in a free,unbiased state. Such a design insures an adequate amount of deflectionof terminals 58 during contact with card 14 so that a consistent andreliable electrical connection between the operative regions of card 14and terminals 58 is formed.

Cover 16 has an aperture 106 on its bottom surface proximate its rearend. Aperture 106 is preferably located on a raised surface 104, andaperture 106 receives cover ground pin 75 when base 12 and cover 16 aremated. Raised surface 104, cover ground pin 75, and aperture 106 arepreferably sized so as to provide consistent, frictional contact betweenat least a portion of cover ground pin 75 and aperture 106 when base 12and cover 16 are mated.

As mentioned previously, cover 16 preferably has four posts 32, 34, 37,and 38. These posts are used to secure card reader 10 to a printedcircuit board (not shown). More specifically, each of the posts isreceived in a corresponding hole in the printed circuit board. Posts 32and 37 are preferably formed as shown in FIG. 6. Each of posts 32 and 37has a longitudinal split 100 and a lip 102 on its lower end. Posts 32and 37 are sized so that upon insertion into the corresponding holes ina printed circuit board, split 100 temporarily compresses and thenexpands, securing lip 102 on the bottom surface of the printed circuitboard. In this manner, a secure mating of card reader 10 to the printedcircuit board is achieved.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, card 14 is typically made from anon-conductive plastic. Base 12 is preferably made from a non-conductiveplastic, although any conventional non-conductive electronics housingmaterial could also be utilized for base 12. Terminals 58, ground arm68, base ground pin 70, power arm 72, base power pin 74, and coverground pin 75 are preferably made from a conventional conductive metal,such as a copper alloy, a beryllium-copper alloy, a phosphor-bronzealloy, or brass.

In contrast, cover 16 is preferably made from a conventional staticallydissipative composite material. As used in the present invention, a"statically dissipative composite material" is a generally insulatingmaterial containing conductive additives resulting in a surfaceresistivity in the range from about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq(ohms/square). Such materials are highly resistive and only slightlyconductive, and such materials minimize electrical "leakage" to nearbyelectronic components and help to insure that all components areproperly electrically isolated. A preferred class of staticallydissipative composite materials are thermoplastics containing conductiveadditives such as carbon fiber or carbon powder. A specific example ofsuch a preferred statically dissipative thermoplastic composite is theSTAT-KON Dissipative Composites, which are commercially available fromLNP Engineering Plastics, Inc. of Exton, Pa.

In addition, cover 16 may also be made from a conventional conductivecomposite material. As used in the present invention, a "conductivecomposite material" is a generally insulating material containingconductive additives resulting in a surface resistivity in the rangefrom about 1×10² up to about 1×10⁶ ohms/sq. Such materials are alsohighly resistive and only slightly conductive, but such materials areless resistive, and more conductive, than statically dissipativecomposite materials. A preferred class of conductive composite materialsare thermoplastics containing conductive additives such as carbon fiber,carbon powder, stainless steel, or nickel coated carbon reinforcements.A specific example of such a preferred conductive thermoplasticcomposite is the STAT-KON Conductive Composites, which are commerciallyavailable from LNP Engineering Plastics, Inc. of Exton, Pa.

The insertion of card 14 into card reader 10, and the preferredtechnique of preventing a damaging electrical shock due to suchinsertion, will now be described. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 3, aleading edge 108 of card 14 is inserted into slot 18. Card 14 slidesacross support surfaces 44 and 46 of base 12 (FIG. 1). When leading edge108 reaches a point indicated by line t₁ --t₁ in FIG. 7, contact ends 80and 86 of integral spring members 76 and 82, respectively, contact uppersurface 110 of card 14. At this time, any electrostatic charge affectingcard 14 is transferred from card 14, to integral spring members 76 and82, to the body of cover 16, to downwardly depending surface 104 andaperture 106 of cover 16, to cover ground pin 75, to base ground pin 70,and finally to the printed circuit board ground connected to base groundpin 70. Of course, electrostatic charge is also dissipated by card 14contacting cover 16 before contacting contact ends 80 and 86. All, orsubstantially all of this electrostatic charge is dissipated to theprinted circuit board ground via the above-described path before leadingedge 108 of card 14 reaches contacting region 60 (FIG. 4) of terminals58, indicated by line t₂ --t₂ in FIG. 7. In this manner, a damagingelectrical shock is prevented when leading edge 108 touches contactingregion 60 of terminals 58. Significantly, downwardly depending surface104, aperture 106, and cover ground pin 75 may easily be added to mostconventional card readers with minimal additional cost to or redesign ofthe card reader.

Electrostatic charge affecting card 14 may be dissipated without adamaging electrical shock, and cover 16 may be grounded using anadditional, or alternative, grounding path. More specifically, at leastone of posts 32 and 37 of cover 16 may be inserted into grounded holeswithin the printed circuit board (not shown) to which card reader 10 isconnected. Efficient grounding is insured by split 100 and lip 102 ofposts 32 and 37 (FIG. 6). When posts 32 and 37 are inserted into agrounded hole, split 100 expands to insure a consistent, frictionalcontact between an outer surface 103 of the posts and the groundedholes. As one skilled the card reader art may appreciate, grounding viathis technique may be accomplished at any mating point on cover 16 andits corresponding printed circuit board at which both a post and agrounded hole can be formed.

As mentioned above, all or substantially all of the electrostatic chargeaffecting card 14 must be dissipated in the time leading edge 108 ofcard 14 travels between points indicated by lines t₁ --t₁ and t₂ --t₂ inFIG. 7. It is believed that various factors influence this rate ofdissipation, including the rate at which card 14 is inserted into cardreader 10, the amount of electrostatic charge affecting card 14, thephysical spacing between lines t₁ --t₁ and t₂ --t₂ as shown in FIG. 7,the conductivity of cover 16, and the conductivity of card 14 itself.However, it is also believed that the surface area of contact ends 80and 86, and the proximity of contact ends 80 and 86 to the integratedcircuit or the operative regions of card 14, do not significantlyinfluence this rate of dissipation for most applications of card reader10. At a typical insertion rate for card 14 (approximately 0.5 to 2.0feet/sec), and with card 14 carrying a typical amount of electrostaticcharge (approximately 10,000 to 15,000 V), forming cover 16 withSTAT-KON Dissipative Composites and a spacing of at least 0.050 inchesbetween lines t₁ --t₁ and t₂ --t₂ is believed to be particularlyadvantageous in preventing damaging electric shock.

As is also explained above, electrostatic charge on card 14 typicallyoriginates from two sources. First, card 14 may build up its own chargedue to normal handling, such as removal and insertion of card 14 from auser's wallet or billfold. Second, after body oils or other partiallyconductive material collects on the surface of card 14, electrostaticcharge built up on the user of card 14 may be transferred to card 14itself. In many applications of card reader 10, it is believed thatdissipating only the charge from card 14 will be sufficient to avoiddamaging electrical shock. For such applications, forming cover 16 froma statically dissipative composite material is preferred. However, inapplications in which it also proves necessary to dissipate both thecharge from card 14 itself and the charge carried by the user of card14, a conductive composite material, which is more conductive thanstatically dissipative composite materials, may be preferred.

At a point indicated by line t₃ --t₃ in FIG. 7, leading edge 108 of card14 begins moving switch 66 (FIG. 1) in the direction of arrow 122. Justbefore leading edge 108 abuts card stops 48 and 50, ground arm 68 andpower arm 72 of switch 66 separate, signaling the printed circuit boardcircuitry (not shown) to read the integrated circuit of card 14. At thispoint, the operative regions of card 14 (not shown) are electricallyconnected to contacting regions 60 of terminals 58.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention,cover 16 is preferably made from a non-conductive plastic, and base 12is preferably made from a conventional statically dissipative compositematerial. The statically dissipative composite material selected must beconductive enough to dissipate electrostatic charge from card 14 to base12, to base ground pin 70, and to the ground of the printed circuitboard (not shown) connected to card reader 10. The staticallydissipative composite material selected must also provide adequateelectrical isolation between operative regions of base 12, such as eachterminal 58, base ground pin 70, and base power pin 74. Therefore, it isbelieved that statically dissipative composite materials having asurface resistivity in the range from about 1×10⁸ up to about 1×10¹⁰ohms/sq are most preferred with this second embodiment. A preferredclass of statically dissipative composite materials that are believed tobe advantageous with this second preferred embodiment are thermoplasticscontaining conductive additives such as carbon fiber or carbon powder. Aspecific example of such a preferred statically dissipativethermoplastic composite is the STAT-KON Dissipative Composites.

Of course, in this second preferred embodiment, cover grounding pin 75,cover slots 88, walls 90, downwardly depending surface 104, and aperture106 may be eliminated, if desired. In addition, in this second preferredembodiment, integral spring members 76 and 82 insure adequate contactbetween the bottom surface of card 14 and base 12, including supportsurfaces 44 and 46 upon which card 14 slides into card reader 10.Furthermore, in this second preferred embodiment, base 12 may beelectrically connected to any suitable ground other than a ground of theprinted circuit board to which card reader 10 is connected.

From the above, it may be appreciated that the smart card reader of thepresent invention provides improved techniques of grounding a cardreader in order to eliminate damaging electrical shock due toelectrostatic charge building up on the smart card. The smart cardreader of the present invention also provides advantageous techniques toinsure proper electrical isolation of the electrical components of thecard reader. These advantages are provided without a substantialincrease in complexity or cost as compared to conventional card readers.

The present invention is illustrated herein by example, and variousmodifications may be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Forexample, numerous geometries and/or relative dimensions could be alteredto accommodate a given application of the smart card reader.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the presentinvention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While themethod and apparatus shown or described have been characterized as beingpreferred it will be obvious that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved smart card reader of the type havinga non-conductive base and a conductive, grounded cover mated with saidbase to form a slot for insertion of a smart card, and in which saidbase has a least one terminal for contacting an operative region of saidsmart card and a switch electrically connected to a base ground pin,said base ground pin for electrically connecting to a ground of aprinted circuit board, wherein the improvement comprises:a cover groundpin electrically connected to said base ground pin and upwardlydepending from said base; and an aperture in said cover receiving atleast a portion of said cover ground pin and making electricalconnection therewith.
 2. The improved card reader of claim 1 whereinsaid cover is formed from a statically dissipative composite materialhaving a surface resistivity in the range from about 1×10⁶ up to about1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq.
 3. The improved card reader of claim 1 wherein saidcover is formed from a conductive composite material having a surfaceresistivity in the range from about 1×10² up to about 1×10⁶ ohms/sq. 4.The improved card reader of claim 2:wherein said cover comprises aspring member for contacting said smart card before said smart cardcontacts said terminal; and wherein said statically dissipativecomposite material is a thermoplastic containing conductive additives.5. An improved smart card reader of the type having a non-conductivebase and a conductive, grounded cover mated with said base to form aslot for insertion of a smart card, and in which said base has at leastone terminal having a first end for electrically connecting to a printedcircuit board and a second end for contacting an operative region ofsaid smart card, wherein the improvement comprises:a conductive postdownwardly depending from said cover and through a grounded hole in saidprinted circuit board; said post making electrical connection with saidgrounded hole; wherein said cover and said post are formed from astatically dissipative composite material having a surface resistivityin the range from about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq; wherein saidcover comprises a spring member for contacting said smart card beforesaid smart card contacts said terminal; and wherein said staticallydissipative composite material is a thermoplastic containing conductiveadditives.
 6. An improved smart card reader of the type having anon-conductive base and a conductive, grounded cover mated with saidbase to form a slot for insertion of a smart card, and in which saidbase has at least one terminal having a first end for electricallyconnecting to a printed circuit board and a second end for contacting anoperative region of said smart card, wherein the improvement comprises:aconductive post downwardly depending from said cover and through agrounded hole in said printed circuit board; said post making electricalconnection with said grounded hole; wherein said post comprises alongitudinal split and a lip on a lower end, and wherein upon insertionof said post into said grounded hole, said lip secures against a bottomsurface of said printed circuit board, and said split expands to insureconsistent contact between said post and said grounded hole.
 7. In amethod for grounding a conductive cover of a smart card reader, of thetype wherein said card reader has a non-conductive base mated with saidcover, and wherein said base has a switch electrically connected to abase ground pin, said base ground pin for electrically connecting to aground of a printed circuit board, the improvementcomprising:electrically connecting a cover ground pin to said baseground pin; positioning said cover ground pin in said base so that saidcover ground pin is in physical and electrical contact with said cover.8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of forming saidcover from a statically dissipative composite material having a surfaceresistivity in the range from about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq. 9.The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of forming said coverfrom a conductive composite material having a surface resistivity in therange from about 1×10² up to about 1×10⁶ ohms/sq.
 10. A smart cardreader, comprising:a cover; and a base mated with said cover to form aslot for receiving a smart card, said base being formed of a staticallydissipative composite material having a surface resistivity in the rangefrom about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq.; wherein said base has atleast one terminal with a first end electrically connected to a printedcircuit board and a second end for contacting an operative region ofsaid smart card; wherein said cover has a spring member for causing saidcard to contact said base before said card contacts said terminal; andwherein said base is electrically connected to a ground of said printedcircuit board.
 11. The smart card reader of claim 10 wherein saidstatically dissipative composite material is a thermoplastic containingconductive additives and having a surface resistivity in the range fromabout 1×10⁸ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq.
 12. A method of dissipatingelectrostatic charge from a smart card being inserted into a cardreader, said card reader having a base with at least one terminal, saidterminal having a first end electrically connected to a printed circuitboard and a second end for contacting an operative region of said smartcart, comprising the steps of:forming said base from a staticallydissipative composite material having a surface resistivity in the rangefrom about 1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq.; grounding said base to aground of said printed circuit board; and upon insertion of said smartcard into said reader, contacting said card with said base before saidcard contacts said terminal.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein saidstatically dissipative composite material is a thermoplastic containingconductive additives and having a surface resistivity in the range fromabout 1×10⁸ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq.
 14. An improved smart cardreader of the type having a non-conductive base and a conductive,grounded cover mated with said base to form a slot for insertion of asmart card, and in which said base has at least one terminal having afirst end for electrically connecting to a printed circuit board and asecond end for contacting an operative region of said smart card,wherein the improvement comprises:a conductive post downwardly dependingfrom said cover and through a grounded hole in said printed circuitboard; said post making electrical connection with said grounded hole;wherein said cover and said post are formed from a conductive compositematerial having a surface resistivity in the range from about 1×10² upto about 1×10⁶ ohms/sq.; wherein said cover comprises a spring memberfor contacting said smart card before said smart card contacts saidterminal; and wherein said conductive composite material is athermoplastic containing conductive additives.
 15. In a method forgrounding a conductive cover of a smart card reader, of the type whereinsaid card reader has a non-conductive base mated with said cover, andwherein said card reader is electrically connected to a printed circuitboard, the improvement comprising:forming a post downward from saidcover, said post and said cover comprising a statically dissipativecomposite material having a surface resistivity in the range from about1×10⁶ up to about 1×10¹⁰ ohms/sq, said statically dissipative compositematerial being a thermoplastic containing conductive additives, saidcover having a spring member for contacting said smart card before saidsmart card contacts said terminal; and disposing said post through agrounded hole in said printed circuit board so that said post is inphysical contact with, and is electrically connected with, said groundedhole.
 16. In a method for grounding a conductive cover of a smart cardreader, of the type wherein said card reader has a non-conductive basemated with said cover, and wherein said card reader is electricallyconnected to a printed circuit board, the improvement comprising:forminga conductive post downward from said cover, said post comprising alongitudinal split and a lip on a lower end; and disposing said postthrough a grounded hole in said printed circuit board so that said postis in physical contact with, and is electrically connected with, saidgrounded hole, so that said lip secures against a bottom surface of saidprinted circuit board, and so that said split expands to insureconsistent contact between said post and said grounded hole.
 17. In amethod for grounding a conductive cover of a smart card reader, of thetype wherein said card reader has a non-conductive base mated with saidcover, and wherein said card reader is electrically connected to aprinted circuit board, the improvement comprising:forming a postdownward from said cover, said post and said cover comprising aconductive composite material having a surface resistivity in the rangefrom about 1×10² up to about 1×10⁶ ohms/sq, said conductive compositematerial being a thermoplastic containing conductive additives, saidcover having a spring member for contacting said smart card before saidsmart card contacts said terminal; and disposing said post through agrounded hole in said printed circuit board so that said post is inphysical contact with, and is electrically connected with, said groundedhole.